Designed by Dutch programmer Guido van Rossum in 1989, Python is a general-purpose dynamic programming language with an emphasis on readability. One of the reasons why it’s become such a popular programming language is its beginner-friendly code. While other languages contain complex syntax that’s comparable to reading to a foreign language, Python is the exact opposite: the code is simple enough so that just about anyone can understand it, regardless of their experience with the language. If you’re interested in learning more about Python, check out some of its key features listed below.

Open Source

Like PHP, Rust, Swift and Perl, Python is an open-source software, meaning its source code is available within the license, and users are allowed to access, modify and/or distribute to the code to anyone without the developer’s permission.

Portable

Because it’s an open-source software, Python has been ported to run on a variety of different platforms, some of which include Windows, Mac, Solaris, OS/2, BeOS, PlayStation, Sharp Zarus, Windows CE, PocketPC and more. But if you intend to run Python on a different platform, use caution to ensure that no system-dependent features are being used.

Object-Oriented and Procedure-Oriented

Python supports both procedure-oriented and object-oriented functions. Procedure-oriented means the language is designed around procedures and functions that are reused throughout the language. In comparison, object-oriented means the language is built around objects that combine data and functionality.

Embeddable

Python is embeddable with C or C++ programming, allowing users to enhance their code with scripting functions.

Easy to Learn

As we mentioned earlier, Python is a beginner-friendly programming language that’s easy to learn, regardless of your experience/knowledge with the language. If you’re a newcomer who’s looking to learn his or her first language, give Python a try. Its simplistic syntax makes learning fun and easy, which is a rare trait among most programming languages.

Libraries

One of Python’s greatest strengths is its libraries. The standard library contains tools to assist programmers in using the language, supporting many formats and protocols like MIME and HTTP. Also included in Python’s standard library is modules for creating graphical user interfaces, modules for manipulating regular expressions, and modules for unit testing. It’s important to note, however, that the standard library is not required to run or use Python in an application.

To learn more about the Python programming language, head over to the official website at https://www.python.org/. It includes important documentation, tutorials, a community-driven forum and more.